HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon

According to HHS, the study will examine electromagnetic radiation and human health to identify gaps in current scientific knowledge, including risks associated with newer technologies.

Following the announcement, eagle-eyed critics have noticed that federal web pages asserting that, quote, cell phones are not dangerous, that's been removed.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon described the web pages as, quote, outdated.

Other federal agencies, however, they have not changed their positions.

The CDC, the National Cancer Institute and the FCC continue to say that existing evidence does not demonstrate a causal link between cell phone use and cancer, though some note that further research is warranted.

Experts say that cell phones emit non ionizing radiation, which does not damage DNA in the same way that cancer causing radiation does.

The World Health Organization similarly says that there is no conclusive evidence of harm, though it does encourage continued long term research.